An underwater search conducted this morning has found 'no sign' of missing pilot Dave Ibbotson.

David Mearns, a shipwreck hunter, tweeted out today that an initial search for the missing Crowle pilot was unsuccessful.

The Retford-based plane, the Piper Malibu, was carrying both the footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot when it crashed on January 21.

The body of Sala was recovered by investigators on February 6, but the 59-year-old pilot has still not been located.

Pilot Ibbotson search

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In a tweet, Mr Mearns said: "Returning to Guernsey having completed this morning a thorough search of the Piper Malibu wreckage.

"Two highly experienced technical divers spent 20 minutes searching and filming the plane, sadly there was absolutely no sign of the pilot David Ibbotson."

He continued: "Today we also organised a helicopter from the UK with two pilots and two trained observers to fly over the the Channel Islands to conduct an aerial search of the CI and French coastlines that are inaccessible.

"Sadly that search for David Ibbotson's body was also negative."

Dave Ibbotson tweet 2

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The family of David Ibbotson have raised a quarter of a million pounds to get the search for his body started up again.

Dave Ibbotson, 60, from North Lincolnshire was the pilot on board the flight (Image: GrimsbyLive)